Archive for May, 2013
Remember the Merchant Mariner on Memorial Day
May 27, 2013Thank you Tugboat Captain and Enchanted Seashells!
My tugboat man is a proud member of the United States Merchant Marine.
He is a merchant mariner.
He also served in Desert Storm.
From the little he’s shared with me, it was a dangerous mission. I met him right after he returned, but I didn’t hear about his involvement until a couple years later when I was updating and re-typing his resume. (On a typewriter!)
Most Americans honor those who’ve served in the military, and we can name the branches of the armed services — Army, Air Force, Navy, and the Marines.
Here on the Pacific Ocean, we always remember to include the United States Coast Guard.
Hardly anyone would think to include the Merchant Marine, which has long been referred to as the forgotten branch of the military, according to Jack Beritzhoff, former merchant seaman and author of Sail Away: Journeys of a Merchant…
View original post 1,557 more words
On National Maritime Day … Two more reprints
May 23, 2013Maritime Day 2013
May 22, 2013
Copyright 2013 SnipeWife except USMM emblem
This is our Memorial Day… to honor those that serve and have given the ultimate sacrifice for this country as civilian seafarers. That little word “civilian” keeps most from considering this brave group on Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. I used to want (still do really) take the girls out of school and head into the city for the Maritime Day celebrations. The one time I did (to take the girls to a semi-private tour of the NS Savannah and wreath-laying ceremony) it was actually considered an unexcused absence. (Don’t get me started–our school system also considered taking the girls out of school to attend Legislative Day at our state capitol an unexcused absence.)
Today T-1 actually has an SOL so there will be no skipping of school. I have to wonder if she realized what day it is when she dressed this morning. She chose to wear a company shirt that commemorates the original fleet of ships the Chief sailed on. This is going to be her toughest SOL today so hopefully she gets a little boost by wearing the shirt her father gave her.
T-2 swears she couldn’t find her copy of the shirt… it is a good possibility both have ended up in T-1’s drawers… it’s also a good possibility T-2 wouldn’t see a snake in front of her.
So without further-ado …
MARAD posted its articles about this year’s Maritime Day celebrations on the 10th. Maritime Day 2013
They also included a great list of local events if you aren’t in the Washington, DC area.
Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That May 22 of each year shall hereafter be designated and known as National Maritime Day, and the President is authorized and requested annually to issue a proclamation…
The Presidential proclamation from the White House was a little hard to find (BING! You failed me!). But I found it. You can read it here. My apologies. I think I did the same thing las tyear. Yesterday the President also declared this week Safe Boating Week.
Fly your flags proud today! Acta Non Verba!
